Jonas Simmerlein

Twitter (United States), University of Vienna

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Jonas Simmerlein is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of technology, religion, and holistic healthcare. His work primarily explores how robotics and artificial intelligence are reshaping spiritual practices and caregiving. In his highly cited review, *"Robots in Religious Practices: A Review"* (2024, 11 citations), Simmerlein provides the first comprehensive taxonomy of religious robots—from automated prayer assistants to robotic priests—filling a critical gap in the literature. He further extends this inquiry into healthcare with *"What about spiritual needs? Care robotics and spiritual care"* (2024, 2 citations), where he argues that the spiritual dimension of health has been largely overlooked in the design of care robots. By challenging the field to move beyond physical and mental support, Simmerlein advocates for a more holistic, human-centered approach to robotic care. His contributions are particularly notable for bridging two traditionally separate domains—theology and robotics—and for raising urgent ethical questions about the role of machines in sacred and vulnerable human experiences. As one of the first scholars to systematically map this emerging landscape, Simmerlein’s work is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of religion, spirituality, and compassionate technology.